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James Harpring, General Counsel, Sheriff's Office, conveyed that he had discussed this <br />matter with the County Attorney, and there had been a consensus on the necessity for both a <br />short-term remedy, and a long-term solution. He described legislation being enacted by the <br />State, and invited Detective Bill Starr to provide further input. <br />Detective Bill Starr, MACE Unit, Sheriff's Department, described the operations of the <br />pain clinics, and reported that many individuals were traveling from out-of-town to obtain the <br />prescription drugs at the pain centers, and afterwards selling them. He provided statistics <br />highlighting the gravity of this situation, and described preliminary actions being taken by the <br />State. He advised the Board that the County will be inundated with the unethical pain clinics, <br />unless some type of action is taken. He thereafter responded to questions from the Board <br />regarding the proliferation of clinics in Florida, the requirements for setting up the clinics, and <br />the tracking program for eliminating "doctor -shopping." <br />Commissioner Wheeler felt that a moratorium would give the Board time to see how the <br />State is going to address this matter, and would provide breathing room to evaluate the best long- <br />term solution for this problem. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Wheeler, <br />SECONDED by Commissioner Flescher, to direct the <br />County Attorney to draft an Ordinance for a moratorium <br />on Pain Clinics. <br />Further discussion ensued regarding how to protect and differentiate the legitimate pain <br />management clinics from the unscrupulous ones. <br />Attorney Harpring spoke in support of the Board adopting the proposed Ordinance. <br />29 <br />June 1, 2010 <br />